Michigan State pulls off signing day flip of California QB Ryland Jessee
Quarterback was among the top recruiting priorities for Michigan State during the 2024 cycle with all three of the program’s scholarship QB’s having left the program after Jonathan Smith was hired as head coach of the Spartans last month.
Michigan State addressed its critical need at quarterback with addition of the No. 6 ranked transfer portal quarterback Aidan Chiles, who played for Smith and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren at Oregon State last fall. With Chiles pulling the trigger and following his former head coach to East Lansing, Michigan State continued working hard to replenish the quarterback room for the Spartans.
After receiving an important commitment from Wheaton (IL) St. Francis standout Allessio Milivojevic earlier this week, who signed with Michigan State early on Wednesday morning, the Spartans added a second high school quarterback to their 2024 recruiting class with the signature of 6-foot-4, 200-pound three-star California prospect Ryland Jessee.
Jessee signed with the Spartans over scholarship offers from Nevada, Utah State, and serious interest from Oregon State. The San Diego Helix High standout had been committed to Utah State since late June. He made that commitment despite late interest from Oregon State, which managed to get him on campus for a visit, during which he was reportedly offered.
Jessee hails from the same powerhouse Helix program that produced Reggie Bush and Alex Smith. The familiarity that Michigan State coaches had with him from their time at Oregon State paved the way for an effective re-recruitment with the San Diego area quarterback. Jessee was on campus at Michigan State last weekend for an official visit. It is unclear if he had a scholarship offer from the Spartans prior to that visit, or when he was offered by Michigan State.
SpartanMag has confirmed that Jessee is a scholarship quarterback in this class. He is expected to join the program as mid-year enrollee. The same is true of Milivojevic.
Jessee’s commitment comes one day after four-star Center Grove (Ind.) quarterback Tyler Cherry selected in-state Indiana over Michigan State and several other programs pursuing the No. 6 ranked quarterback and No. 106 overall ranked prospect in the On300.
With Jessee, Milivojevic, and Chiles all on board for the Spartans in this recruiting class, Michigan State has more than adequately addressed a position of critical need. Smith’s own background as record setting quarterback at Oregon State, and as one of the top developers of quarterbacks at the collegiate level undoubtedly played a role in the Spartans being able to replenish the quarterback room as quickly as they did.
Jessee is ranked just outside the On3 Top 100 in the state of California in 2024. He is a three-star prospect ranked No. 1551 overall, No. 82 at the quarterback position, and No. 124 in the state of California in the On3 Industry Ranking.
Jessee threw for 3,389 yards and 48 touchdowns across his junior and senior seasons at Helix High in the San Diego area. His senior season included a four-touchdown performance in a post-season game against Lincoln High last month.
